Electrode for diathermy treatment



Sept. 20, 1938. E. 1 ROSEy 2,130,759

ELECTRODE FOR DIATHERMY TREATMENT Filed Dec. 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR, gaga/P .Zlfos@ ATTORNEYS,

Sept, zo, 1938. E. J. ROSE 2,130,759

ELECTRODE FOR DIATHERMY TREATMENT Filed Dec. ll, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2gagging 1 1- BYMM/,Q/

1N VENTOR.

.Il-ose ATTORNEYS,

Patented Sept. 20, 1938 PATENT OFFICE .2,130,759 ELEcTRoDE For.DTATHERMY TREATMENT Edgar 4J. Rose, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to E.J. Rose Manufacturing Company of California, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.,

of California a corporation Application December 11, 1937, Serial No.179,323

6 Claims.

This invention relates to diathermy apparatus and pertains particularlyto an advantageous form of treatment electrode Which may be associatedwith a suitable source of high frequency electrical energy to produceheating of the body tissues. l

This application is a continuation-impart of my copending applicationSerial No. 24,493, filed June 1, 1935, and is directed particularly toan advantageous .form of electrode unit employing an electrode of thetype disclosed therein.l

Another object of the invention is to provide such an electrode in whichthere is a minimum amount of energy-consuming dielectric materialbetween the patient and the electrode element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a diathermy treatmentelectrode which may be handled with impunity and which maintains a givenair spacing between the patient and the electrode element.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a diathermytreatment electrode which iswell insulated and` is so constructed as toprevent a patient from coming in contact with its `metallic parts.

, Another object of the invention is to provide a diathermy treatmentelectrode which may be `simply and inexpensively constructed and easilyrepaired.

Other objects andY advantages of the invention Will either bespecifically lbrought out in the following description or Willbe-apparent therefrom. Referring to the drawings:

,Fig A1 is a perspective View of a diathermy treatment electrodeaccording to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section thereof;

Fig. 3 isa transverse section thereof taken on line 3 3 in Fig. 2 Withthe electrode element in elevation;

f Figs. 4 and 5 are longitudinal sections of modied forms of the device;

Fig. 6 is a partly sectional end elevation taken `on line 6--6 in Fig.5; and

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectionv of a further ,45 modied form of thedevice.

The diathermy treatment electrode of this invention may comprise anelongated casing having a treatment end which is adapd to be disposed inclose engagement With a body member undergoing treatment. A metallicelectrode member is disposed Within the casing at a position removedfrom the treatment end and is' insulated therefrom, and a protectingpartition is positioned adjacent the treatment end at a positionintermediate the treatment end andthe 'electrode member in protectingrelation to the electrode member so as to restrict manual acl `cess tosaid member through the treatment end.

form and having an open end, and is preferably arranged transversely ofthe casing so that the axis of the spiral electrode extendssubstantially in the direction of the length of the casing. The spiralelectrode member is associated with one side of a source of highfrequency energy through an insulated conductor which is connected to aspiral conductor at one point only. The construction of spiral electrodemembers and the modes of connectionthereof are disclosed and claimed insaid copending application, and the electrode member of the presentdisclosure may be any of the types disclosed therein.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 through 3, the diathermy treatmentelectrode of this invention is shown as comprising an elongatedcylindrical casing l provided with open ends 2 and 3, either or both ofwhich may constitute treatment ends, and with an electrode elementcomprising a spiral conductor 4 extending transversely of the casing land arranged with its axis extending substantially in the direction ofthe length of the casing l. The casing I further comprises perforatedlpartitions and 6 Which are arranged intermediate the electrode member 4and the respective ends, and in protecting relation to said electrodemember.

The casing may comprise a pair of cylindrical portions l and 8 providedwith flan-ges 9 and l0, respectively, Which may be used to join the twoportions together. The casing portions and the partitions may be of anysuitable material, preferably insulating. For example, the portions 'land 8 may be molded from Bakelite or other comparable material and thepartitions 5 and S carried thereby molded integrally with these portionsto obviate the necessity of separate mountings for these partitions.

The partitions 5 and 6 are preferably constructed so as to provide aminimum quantity of dielectric material in the electrode eld, and thusmaintain the electrical losses from such source at a minimum. Where thepartitions are formed integrally with the casing portions, as shown inFigs. 1 to 3, such partitions may be perforated as at i6, to accomplishthis desired end, the size of the perforations being such as to restrictmanual access to the electrode 4, in view of the fact that the primefunction of such partitions is that of protecting the patient or userfrom coming in contact with such electrode.

The electrode element 4 may be open at its inner end 4a and may beconnected to an electrical conductor ll at its outer end 4b, whichconductor may be associated with one side of a source of high frequencyenergy. The casing portions 'l and 8 may be provided with recesses l2and I3 at their abutting ends, which cooperate to form a channel forpositioning the spiral conductor 4; and in this connection, the outerturn of this conductor may be made substantially circular inconfiguration for somewhat more than one-half turn, as from 4b to 4c inFig. 3, which substantially circular portion will extend in closeengagement with the channel` formed by the recesses l2 and i3. The anges9 and lil may be extended as at 9a and Illa to forma boss to hold theinsulated conductor Il and the end 4b of the spiral conductor fromrotation and at the same time prevent manual contact with the end 4b.Screws are shown at i4 for holding the portions 1 and 3 in engagementwith one another.

In practice, the Idevices may be used in pairs and the conductors Ileach connected to the respective sides of a source of high frequencyenergy, and each of the devices disposed with a treatment end againstthe body member which is undergoing treatment. During treatment thepatients body will become heated and the skin adjacent the treatment endof the electrode will usually perspire so that considerable moisturewill be present. These drops of moisture may form local circuits andbecome heated sufficiently to cause painful burns when the electrodeelement 4 is in close proximity to the skin, especially when highfrequency currents having a frequency on the order of megacycles areemployed. By mounting the electrode element as shown, with both theprotective partition and the element removed from the skin, this type ofburning is prevented. The casing l may be provided, if desired, withsuitable ventilation means, as by providing perforations I5 in thecasing adjacent the treatment end which cooperate with the perforationsIS in the protective partitions, so that air may enter the casing at I5and pass upwardly through the partition 5, the electrode element 4 andoutwardly through the partition 6. In order to obviate the possibilityof body contact with the partitions 5 and 6, I prefer to remove them fora short distance within the casing. The perforations indicated at I5 inthe partition 5 should be as large as possible to allow free aircirculation, and should be small enough to prevent manual access to theelectrode element 4, as above brought out, so that an individual cannotcome in chance contact with the element i and may handle the treatmentelectrode with impunity.

It is conceivable that the partitions 5 and 6 may be formed of metal andprotected by a suitable insulating cover such as varnish. However, theywill be heated rapidly and will absorb considerable energy, and it isfor this reason that I prefer to use a dielectric material which has aminimum of dielectric loss and to interpose as small an amount aspracticable of any material between the treatment end and the electrodeelement. It will be appreciated that a thin membrane of dielectricmaterial may be substituted for the perforated partition, in which caseit may be advantageous to provide additional perforations in the casingto allow access of air between the protecting partitions and theelectrode element. Exposed metal parts should be avoided where possiblesince such bodies become charged in a high frequency eld and are liableto cause high frequency burns when touched, and for this reason thescrews i4 may be set in recesses and covered with suitable insulatingmaterial such as wax.

Referring to Fig. 4, a diathermy treatment electrode having a singletreatment end is indicated generally at 2l and is shown as comprising anelongated, substantially cylindrical casing 22 which may correspond toeither one of the casing portions 'l or 8 of Figs. 1 to 3, and isprovided with a treatment end 23, a perforated protecting partition 24and a spiral electrode member 5 25. A protecting partition or cover isprovided at 26 at the end of the casing removed from the treatment endand may be held to the casing by means, of screws 2'! in the same manneras the two portions 'l and 8 are held together. The partition 26 4may bemade from suitable insulating material and may be perforate orimperforate. A conductor 28 is shown connected to the outer end of thespiral electrode 25 and the inner end thereof is open. It should benoted that in a 1 simple form of the diathermy treatment electrode theprotecting partition 25 may be omitted, especially if some form ofclamping or supporting device is associated with the electrode forholding the same in engagement with a patient. 2

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a diathermy treatment electrode which maybe assembled from parts which are easily obtainable. This electrode isshown as comprising an outer casing 3| of suitable material, such asBakelite or f2 ber tubing, for example, within which is disposed aspiral electrode 32. Two short lengths of similar tubing are shownwithin the outer casing 3i and at opposite sides of the spiral electrode32 at v.i3 and 34 and serving as spacer members. Partitions 35 and 35are shown mounted within the casing 3l and abutting the spacing members33 and 34 respectively. The whole assembly is then held in position byshort tubular end pieces 3l and 38 which may be fastened in placethrough the agency of insulating dowel pins or the like, extendingthrough outer casing 5l as at 39.

Referring to Fig. '7, an advantageous embodiment of my invention isshown as comprising a substantially cylindrical casing `lll treatmentend 42 and provided with a perforated partition 43 which is located at aposition re moved from the treatment end. The other end of the casing 4|is provided with threads as at 44, and an end partition 45, on which ismounted spiral electrodemember 46, is shown in threaded engagement withthe casing 4l.

The end partition 45 may be provided with a boss which is provided witha threaded bore 48 within whichV an extension 5D of the inner end 49 ofthe spiral electrode member is threadedly disposed. A lock nut 5I isshown in engagement with the threaded portion of the electrode memberand with the inner end of the boss 41. ,5 An insulated conductor, shownat 53, extends into the boss 41 and is connected to the end of thespiral electrode. In assembling the device, the conductor would beconnected to the end of having a m the spiral electrode and theelectrode would then 60 170 Although I have shown only forms of theelectrode element in which connection to one side of a source of highfrequency current is made to either the inner or the outer end oftheelectrode element while leaving either the outer .D15

It will be understood that any of the spiralV electrodes may beproportioned so as to be resonant to the frequency of the source of highirequency energy whereby the advantages of such resonance may berealized. As specically brought out in said copending application, thespiral electrode produces an advantageous voltage intensication. Thus,when electrical connection is made to one end of the spiral electrodemember, the greatest voltage intensification will appear at the otherend thereof. In the case of the outer or rim connection, as shown inFig. 3, the outside turn which is adjacent the casing will be at a lowervoltage than the inside turn and there will be a lower insulationrequirement on the casing than with the center connection shown in Fig.7, in which the outer turn adjacent the casing is at a higher voltagethan the inside turn. Without regarding certain structural advantages Ifind it preferable to utilize the rim connection since it removes thehigh voltage portions of the electrode element away from the outside ofthe casing toward the center thereof where it is less liable to becontacted manually and where there is less liability of causing adangerous insulation breakdown through the casing.

As specifically brought out in said copending application, the spiralelectrode produces an electromagnetic and electrostatic treatment field,or, in terms of the art, an inductivel and a condenser field. It will be.appreciated that the relative values of these two fields may be modiedwithin limits by variation in the design cr mode of connection of theelectrode elements and that further modification of the treatment fieldmay be accomplished by employing an electrode of this invention with anelectrode of another type, such as the conventional flat pad electrodewhich is well known to the art.

Numerous modications of the device will become apparent to those skilledin the art and I do not choose to be limited to the modifications shownand described herein, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

It will be appreciated that the size and proportions of the device maybe varied greatly according to the employment thereof and the sizes andproportions delineated herein are illustrative only.

I claim:

1. A diathermy treatment electrode which comprises: an elo-ngated casinghaving a treatment end .and including a protection partition positionedadjacent said treatment end; a metallic electrode member disposed withinsaid casing at a position removed from said treatment end and insulatedfrom said casing, said electrode member comprising an electricalconductor wound in spiral form and having an open end, the axis of saidelectrode extending substantially in the direction of the length of saidcasing; and an electrical conductor connected to said spiral conductorat one point only for electrical association of said spiral conductorwith a source of high frequency energy, said partition being positionedbetween said treatment end of said casing Aand said electrode member inprotecting relation to said electrode member so as to restrict manualaccess to said electrode member through said treatment end.

2. A treatment electrode as set forth in claim 1, said casing beingperforated to provide circulation of air therein, said perforationsbeing of such size .as to restrict manual access to said casing.

3. A diathermy treatment electrode which comprises: an elongatednon-metallic casing member having a treatment end; a metallic electrodemember disposed within said casing at a position removed from saidtreatment end, said electrode member comprising a metallic conductorwound in substantially iiat spiral form and having an open end, the axisof said electrode extending substantially in the direction of the lengthof said casing; an electrical conductor connected to said spiralconductor at one point only for electrical association of said spiralconductor with a source of high frequency energy; and a perforatedpartition of insulating material positioned in said casing between saidtreatment end and said electrode member in protecting relation to saidelectrode member to restrict manual access to said electrode memberthrough said treatment end.

4. A diathermy treatment electrode which comprises; an elongatednon-metallic casing member having a treatment end; a metallic electrodemember disposed within said casing at a position removed from saidtreatment end and insulated therefrom, said electrode member comprisinga metallic conductorwound in substantially iiat spiral form and having.an open end, the axis of said electrode extending substantially in thedirection of the length of said casing; an electrical conductorconnected to said spiral conductor at one point only forelectricalassociation of said spiral conductor with a source of highfrequency energy; a perforated partition of insulating materialpositioned in said casing at one side of said electrode member andbetween said treatment end and said electrode member; and a secondpartition member of insulating material positioned in said casing at theother side of said electrode member and removed from said treatment end,said partitions being positioned in protecting relation to saidelectrode member to restrict manual access thereto.

5. A diathermy treatment electrode as set forth in claim 4, said casingmember having two treatment ends and said partition members beingdisposed intermediate said electrode member and the respective ends.

6. A diathermy treatment electrode which comprises: an elongatednon-metallic casing member having a treatment end; a protectivepartition adjacent the other end of said casing member; a metallicelectrode member mounted on said partition and disposed within saidcasing, said electrode member comprising a metallic conductor wound insubstantially flat spiral form and having an open outer end, the aXis ofsaid electrode extending substantially in the direction of the length ofsaid casing; an electrical conductor connected to said spiral conductorat one point only for association with a source of high frequencyenergy, said point being the inner end of said spiral conductor; and aperforated partition of insulating material positioned within saidcasing between said treatment end and said electrode member, each ofsaid partitions being disposed in protecting relation to said electrodemember so as to restrict manual access thereto.

EDGAR J. ROSE.

